Blueberry plant named &#39;FF03-015&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF03-015’ is provided. ‘FF03-015’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest, fresh market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘FL95-52’ and ‘Sunshine Blue,’ and can be distinguished by its outstanding features. The variety has good vigor, ripens very early and produces excellent yields of large berries with good flavor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/390,716 filed on Apr. 6, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

Latin name of the family, genus, and species: Family—Ericaceae. Genus—Vaccinium. Species—corymbosum.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘FF03-015’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L. hybrid) plant, referred to as ‘FF03-015,’ as herein described and illustrated. The cross that produced FF03-015 was made in Florida, and seeds were subsequently sent to Oregon for germination and evaluation of the resulting seedlings. The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF03-015’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in 2010 because its fruit ripened early and had good flavor. ‘FF03-015’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The variety has good vigor, ripens very early and produces excellent yields of large berries with good flavor. After being selected as a seedling in Oregon, ‘FF03-015’ was trialed in California, USA; Colima, Mexico; and Huelva, Spain. When grown under protected tunnels in an evergreen production system in Spain, ‘FF03-015’ produced excellent yields of large fruit for such an early ripening variety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from a cross of ‘FL95-52’ (female parent, unpatented, owned by University of Florida and used with permission) by ‘Sunshine Blue’ (pollen parent, unpatented). The cross that produced ‘FF03-015’ was made in Gainesville, Fla., USA in 2000.

The new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a controlled breeding program of Vaccinium at Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2010 from the controlled pollination of seed parent ‘FL95-52’ (unpatented) and pollen parent ‘Sunshine Blue’ (unpatented).

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting propagation since the 2010 at Lowell, Oreg., USA has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

The new cultivar was selected as a single plant within a population of plants resulting from this controlled pollination of Vaccinium hybrids in the year 2010 in a commercial field planting environment at Lowell, Oreg. Selection criteria were a combination of good vigor, very early ripening and excellent yields of large berries with good flavor. The selection was subsequently evaluated for 5 years at Lowell, Oreg. USA.

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘FF03-015’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium hybrid plant:

-   -   1. Growth habit—Upright, round     -   2. Timing of beginning of flowering—Flowering throughout the         year, from end of February to end of May.     -   3. Timing of fruit ripening—Start at the middle of April in         Lowell, Oreg.     -   4. Plant growth vigor—Vigorous.     -   5. Berry color—Ripe berry color from Pantone colors Dapple Gray         16-3907 to Crown Blue 19-3926.     -   6. Berry firmness—Low.     -   7. Picking scar—Small with an average of 1.4 mm in diameter.     -   8. Leaf width—Average of 24.78 mm.     -   9. Berry size—Medium-small with a diameter average of 14.79 mm.     -   10. Berry sweetness—Moderate.

The female parent ‘FL95-52’ has not been evaluated side by side with ‘FF03-178’ in the same environment. However, the new variety differs from the unpatented male parent ‘Sunshine Blue’ in that ‘FF03-015’ is a tall upright bush, that produces very early light blue fruit, while ‘Sunshine Blue’ is a semi-dwarf round bush, with midseason, medium dark colored fruit. The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF03-015’ has maintained its distinguishing characteristics throughout successive asexual propagations. The variety has been repeatedly asexually reproduced through softwood cuttings in Lowell, Oreg., and the clones are phenotypically identical to the original plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘FF03-015’. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the whole plant of the new variety ‘FF03-015’.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the whole plant with fruit of the new variety ‘FF03-015’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘FF03-015’.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the leaves of the new variety ‘FF03-015’.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘FF03-015’.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of stem of the new variety ‘FF03-015’.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of the leaves of the new variety ‘FF03-015’.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of the whole plant with fruit of the new variety ‘FF03-015’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘FF03-015’. The data which defines these characteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 5 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Lowell, Oreg. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Lowell, Oreg. Color designations are from Pantone color code source.

-   Classification: a. Family — Ericaceae b. Genus — Vaccinium c.     Species — corymbosum d. Common name — Blueberry. -   Parentage: Female Parent — ‘FL95-52’ (unpatented). Male Parent —     ‘Sunshine Blue’ (unpatented). -   Market class: Hand harvest, fresh market. -   Plant:     -   -   General.—a. Parentage — ‘FL95-52’×‘Sunshine Blue’. b. Plant             height — Average of 1.0 m. c. Plant width — Average of             1.3 m. d. Growth habit — Round. e. Growth type —             Medium-vigorous. f. Productivity — High. g. Cold hardiness —             Null-low. h. Cold tolerance — Low. i. Chilling requirement —             Low, less than 600 hours. j. Tolerance to disease — Good. k.             Leafing — Heavy leafing. l. Twigginess — Low. -   Stem:     -   -   General.—a. Suckering tendency — Low. b. Mature cane color —             Pantone colors Moonlight 15-1309, Pecan Brown 17-1430,             Stucco 16-1412, Sand 15-1225, Raw Umber 17-1422. c. Mature             cane length — Average of 27 cm. d. Mature cane width —             Average of 16 mm. e. Bark texture — Rough. f. Fall color on             new shoots — Pantone colors Holly Berry 17-1633, Green Oasis             15-0538, Faded Rose 18-1629, Mineral Red 17-1537. g. Surface             texture of new wood — Smooth. h. Internode length on strong,             new shoots — Average 19.1 mm. i. Fruiting wood — average of             16 cm in length. -   Foliage:     -   -   General.—a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst — In Lowell,             Oreg. late February to early March. b. Leaf color (Top side)             — New leaf colors: Peridol 17-0336, Chive 19-0323, Crushed             Berry 18-1418, Plum Wine 18-1411, Herbal Garden 15-0336. c.             Leaf color (Under side) — Pantone color Water Cress             17-0220. d. Leaf arrangement — Alternate. e. Leaf shape —             Elliptic. f. Leaf margins — Entire to crenulate. g.             Undulation of margin — Entire. h. Leaf venation —             Pinnate. i. Leaf apices — Acuminate. j. Leaf bases —             Acute. k. Leaf Length — Average 50.64 mm. l. Leaf Width —             Average 24.78 mm. m. Leaf length/width ratio — Medium. n.             Leaf nectarines — Absent. o. Pubescence of upper side —             Absent. p. Pubescence of lower side — Absent. q. Cross             sectional profile — Plane. r. Longitudinal profile —             Plane. s. Attitude — Ascending.         -   Petioles.—a. Length — Average 1.03 mm. b. Width — Average             0.97 mm. c. Color — Pantone color Green Banana 14-0434. -   Flowers:     -   -   General.—a. Time of beginning of flowering — Flowered             throughout the year, from end of February to end of May. b.             Time of 50% anthesis — In Lowell, Oreg. late March. c.             Flower shape — Urceolate to cylindrical. d. Flower bud             density — Medium. e. Flower fragrance — Mild, sweet.         -   Corolla.—a. Color — Pantone color Snow White 11-0602. b.             Length — Average 8.2 mm. c. Width — Average 7.29 mm. d.             Aperture width — Average 3.99 mm. e. Anthocyanin coloration             of corolla — Low. f. Corolla ridges — Present. g. Protrusion             of stigma — Average 0.14 mm below lip of corolla.         -   Inflorescence.—a. Length — Average 2.26 cm. b. Diameter —             Average 2.33 cm. c. Length of peduncle — Average             12.04 mm. d. Surface texture of peduncle — Smooth. e. Color             of peduncle — Pantone colors Herbal Garden 15-0336 to Green             Banana 14-0434 with some Red Earth 18-1444 and Redwood             18-1443. f. Length of pedicel — Average 3.78 mm. g. Surface             texture of pedicel — Smooth. h. Color of pedicel — Pantone             colors Mellow Green 12-0426 and small amount of Crushed             Berry 18-1418 on some. i. Number of flowers per cluster —             Average 6 flowers per cluster. j. Flower cluster density —             Moderate to high.         -   Calyx (with sepals).—a. Diameter — Average 4.14 mm. b. Color             (sepals) — Pantone colors Lettuce Green 13-0324 to Herbal             Garden 15-0336.         -   Stamen.—a. Length — Average 7.08 mm. b. Number per flower             —10. c. Filament color — Pantone color Celery Green             13-0532. d. Style: Length — Average 7.98 mm. e. Color —             Golden Ochre 16-1346.         -   Pistil.—a. Length — Average 10.47 mm. b. Ovary color             (exterior) — Pantone colors Spinach Green 16-0439 to             Grasshopper 18-0332 with small amount of Crushed Berry             18-1418 on some.         -   Anther.—a. Length — Average 4.83 mm. b. Number — 2. c. Color             — Pantone colors Baked Clay 18-1441 to Raw Sienna 17-1436.         -   Pollen.—a. Abundance — Moderate. b. Color — Pantone color             Pale Banana 12-0824. c. Self-compatibility — Good. -   Fruit:     -   -   General.—a. Time of fruit ripening — Start at the middle of             April in Lowell, Oreg. b. Time of 50% maturity — Middle of             June. c. Fruit development period — 63 days, d. Cluster             density — Average of 5 berries per cluster. e. Unripe fruit             color — Pantone colors Celery Green 13-0532, Holly Berry             17-1633, Maroon 18-1619. f. Ripe Berry color — Pantone             colors Dapple Gray 16-3907 to Crown Blue 19-3926. g. Berry             surface wax abundance — Moderate wax that rubs easily. h.             Berry flesh color — Pantone colors Pastel Yellow 11-0616 to             Antique white 11-0105 to Vanilla 12-0712. i. Berry weight —             Average 1.74 g. j. Berry Height from calyx to scar — Average             13.06 mm. k. Berry Diameter — Average 14.79 mm. l. Berry             shape — Variable. Round, with some slightly oblate and             others slightly spheroid. m. Fruit stem scar — Average 1.4             mm in diameter. n. Sweetness when ripe — Moderate. o.             Firmness when ripe — Low. p. Acidity when ripe —             Moderate. q. Storage quality — Good. r. Suitability for             mechanical harvesting — Low. s. Self-fruitfulness — Good. t.             Uses — Fresh Hand harvest. -   Seed:     -   -   General.—a. Seed abundance in fruit — Average 19 seeds per             berry. b. Seed color — Pantone color Aztec 18-1130. c. Seed             dry weight — 0.035 mg per 100 seeds. d. Seed length —             Average 1.62 mm. -   Comparison between parental and commercial cultivars: The new     variety ‘FF03-015’ is different from ‘FF04-014’, other evergreen     cultivar in that ‘FF03-015’ present an upright growth habit vs     ‘FF04-014’ that is more round shape. ‘FF03-015’ is also early     producer of lighter or waxier, smaller berries than ‘FF04-014’.

Name of variety: Characteristics: Differences: FF04-014 Growth habit Upright FF04-014 Season Earlier FF04-014 Fruit color Lighter FF04-014 Fruit size Smaller Star Leaf retention Evergreen 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘FF03-015’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 